Visiting worker killed, colleague injured in Rockford hit-and-run

Tuesday

Dec 17, 2013 at 7:58 AMDec 17, 2013 at 5:18 PM

By Jeff KolkeyRockford Register Star

BELOW: Winnebago County fatal crashes

ROCKFORD - A man from China who travelled to Rockford for business with UTC Aerospace Systems was killed and a 36-year-old man was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver while walking to a hotel at 9:20 p.m. Monday on East State Street.

Weixue Liu, 27, of Shanghai, China, was pronounced dead at 11:38 p.m. Monday in the emergency room at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Winnebago County Chief Deputy Coroner William Hintz said in a news release.

UTC Aerospace Systems spokeswoman Colleen Carroll confirmed they were among a group of four businessmen who had travelled to Rockford working for a UTC Aerospace Systems' customer located in China.

She would not say the specific purpose of the trip or identify the specific Chinese company that employs the men.

"We are deeply saddened by last night's traffic incident that resulted in the death of one of our customer visitors and the serious injury of another," Carroll said. "Our thoughts are with the families and colleagues of these men."

The four men, who had travelled from Shanghai on business, had taken a bus into Rockford from O'Hare and were dropped off at the Clock Tower Resort.

They were walking west on East State Street toward a hotel when two of the visitors were hit by a dark-colored late '90s to early 2000 model GMC Jimmy SUV just west of the I-90 overpass.

Their colleagues, who are also from Shanghai, attempted to help the victims.

Both were transported to area hospitals. Efforts to save Weixue Liu's life were not successful. Zhang Xin is not expected to survive his injuries.

East State Street was closed to westbound traffic between Bell School Road and I-90 overnight as the crash scene was investigated by officers with the Rockford Police Department and the Illinois State Police.

UTC Aerospace has many business ties in China. Over the summer, the company announced an agreement to supply passenger door damper and emergency opening actuation systems for COMAC, the commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. It also said in June that UTC had forged a joint venture with a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China to develop and manufacture the electric power system for the C919 jetliner.

The tragic incident is unlikely to impact economic development opportunities in Rockford, said Mark Podemski of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.

Such tragedies are unfortunate, but occasionally occur during business travels, Podemski said.

"It's tragic and unfortunate, but it's not something that is ever reflective of the particular place," said Podemski, recalling a similar incident when he travelled on business to Georgia. "All we can do is support the people and families involved."

Podemski said it does raise questions about the alarming number of hit-and-run crashes this year.

So far in 2013, there have been seven fatal hit-and-run crashes in Rockford. And the region has seen an elevated number of pedestrians killed this year.

Eight pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes so far this year in Winnebago County, including Rockford. There were 10 pedestrians killed in Winnebago County from 2008 to 2012 total.

So far this year, there have been 31 people killed in 30 fatal traffic crashes in Winnebago County. That already eclipses the 25 people killed in 24 crashes in all of 2012.

Police Chief Chet Epperson said officers are searching for the vehicle and driver of the SUV that caused the Monday night crash. He said that leaving the scene of the crash can often mean further criminal charges and shows a concerning lack of personal responsibility.

"It's just horrible to take off and flee a crash scene," Epperson said.

Anyone with information about the Monday night crash or possible suspects is asked to call Rockford police at 815-987-5824 or Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.

Jeff Kolkey: 815-987-1374; jkolkey@rrstar.com; @jeffkolkey

Winnebago County fatal crashesA man who travelled with three others on business from Shanghai, China, to Rockford became the eighth pedestrian to die in a fatal traffic crash this year in Winnebago County. There were ten pedestrians killed in all 2008 to 2012 combined.